The United States has advised its citizens to reconsider any travel plans to Nepal due to the ongoing fuel crisis acknowledging that the crisis was a result of “blockages at the border with India”.

Issuing a travel warning on its website on Thursday, US Department of State wrote: “Sporadic demonstrations and civil unrest in the Tarai region of Nepal may affect tourist travel to the southern region.” It further said that the shortage could disrupt public transportation around Nepal and warned that provision of normal goods and services including food may be effected.

The notice on Thursday replaces the last travel warning the US issued on July 2 cautioning against unstable buildings and landslips as a result of the April 25 earthquake. The new warning retains the threat posed by earthquakes but has added fuel shortage and violent demonstrations as further causes for concern.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Kathmandu seemed to accept that the shortage was due to the blockade by India. Posting a message for US citizens in its website on Thursday, it wrote: “Due to the nationwide fuel shortage, due to blockages at the border with India, many of the safety measures that would normally be relied on in an emergency situation may become unavailable.”

Following the promulgation of the constitution in Nepal by the sovereign Constituent Assembly, India imposed a border blockade against Nepal. The blockade has entered 18^th day on Friday but the Indian government has so far refused to acknowledge it. It, instead, has been blaming the ongoing demonstrations in the Tarai for its failure to clear customs for fuel and other imports.

“As of today these services are still operational, but service providers are facing dwindling supplies,” the US Embassy wrote. “If you are planning multi-day travel the situation could change drastically during your trip.” Moreover, the embassy warned that the situation will not return to normal until two to three weeks even if “the border supply lines are fully restored” now.